After the sudden killing of beloved artist Nipsey Hussle earlier this year, the hip-hop world was shocked. YG, a close friend of Nipsey, pushed his nearly complete album’s release date back in response to the tragedy, hoping to pay tribute to the late rapper’s legacy. Having survived a shooting himself in 2015, YG was understandably shaken by these events.

YG dedicated his album 4Real 4Real to Nipsey’s memory, but while it does contain a tribute to Nipsey, the album maintains its identity as a solid and complete YG album. The same bombastic and bouncing songs can be found throughout the work, though they are now alongside some touching new emotions.

Above all else this album is still meant to be a party starter, as songs such as “Bottle Service,” “Do Ya Dance,” and “Go Loko” contain production and lyrics that create an irresistible bounce and energy. YG, aided by longtime partner DJ Mustard, shows that he can still make infectious hits with his eyes closed.

Though the album has many party anthems, emotion is present in every song. Now, YG is exposing a vulnerable side of himself that has normally remained very hidden. “Heart 2 Heart,” which features Meek Mill, displays pain like a YG song never has before. Not all attempts at creating a deep cut work perfectly, such as on uncomfortable “Keyshia Had A Baby,” but the rapper’s emotional growth is becoming more and more present.

YG closes out the album with a recording of the speech that he gave at Nipsey’s funeral, connecting the whole album and reaffirming the idea that this work is a tribute. With Nipsey gone, YG feels that he must become the new father of West Coast hip-hop, a fact that he states on this album. Luckily, it seems that he is living up to the mantle that he has placed on himself. In contrast to the often rage-filled albums that he has released in the past, YG has crafted something that now encapsulates both the excitement of the party and the somberness that comes after.

YG shows true growth on this album, and thus he creates a touching send-off for the late Nipsey Hussle.